BILL ANALYSIS
SB 557 (PEACE)
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SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE Bill No: SB 557
Senator KARNETTE, Chair Author: PEACE
VERSION: 3/25/99
Analysis by: Steve
SchnaidtFiscal:Yes
SUBJECT:
Highway relinquishments: Routes 54 and 144.
DESCRIPTION:
This urgency bill would authorize the California
Transportation Commission to relinquish to the City of El
Cajon a segment of State Highway Route 54, and to
relinquish to the City of Santa Barbara State Highway Route
144 upon meeting specified terms and conditions.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law provides for the designation of individual
highways as part of the State Highway System, including the
numbering and description of such routes in statute.
Existing law also provides for the relinquishment of a
highway or portion thereof to a city or county under an
agreement between affected local jurisdiction and the
Department of Transportation and when the highway segment
has been deleted from the State Highway System by
legislative enactment. The actual relinquishment of the
route is the responsibility of the California
Transportation Commission.
This bill would authorize the California Transportation
Commission (CTC) to relinquish a portion of one highway and
an entire highway to two respective cities, according to
specific terms. The bill would:
1. Authorize the relinquishment to El Cajon of the portion
of Route 54 between the southern city limits and the
intersection with Route 8, subject to an agreement with the
Department of Transportation and formal action by the CTC.
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The bill would prohibit El Cajon from imposing any special
restrictions on the operations of buses or commercial
trucks on the relinquished section beyond restrictions
imposed by the department or authorized under other
provisions of law.
The bill would make a change in the statutory description
of Route 54 to reflect the deletion of the specified
segment from the state system.
2. Authorize the relinquishment of Route 144 in its
entirety to Santa Barbara, subject to an agreement between
the city and the department and formal action by the CTC.
The bill would repeal the current statutory provisions
describing Route 144 in the state system upon the effective
date of the relinquishment, thereby removing references to
Route 144 and deleting it from the state system.
COMMENTS:
1. El Cajon is seeking its relinquishment in order to make
improvements to the specified segment of Route 54. City
officials state that funds are available for road
improvements which can be accomplished without a major
right-of-way acquisition; such acquisition would be
necessary if the department undertook the planned
improvements. The department does not have improvement
funds available, however, and apparently has no plans for
improvements. El Cajon's funding source is time-sensitive
and the reason for the bill's urgency clause.
The proposed prohibition on bus and truck restrictions was
sought by trucking representatives to ensure continuation
of current access to the route.
2. Santa Barbara is pursing local traffic improvements
involving an intersection and freeway ramp. The city
wishes to add a roundabout to the nearby intersection, but
the department does not favor such a configuration due to
the proximity of the freeway ramp. Relinquishment of Route
144 to Santa Barbara would allow the city to proceed with
the improvements in the manner it believes is most
suitable. City officials believe the department would
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accept the roundabout as part of the relinquishment
proposal.
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the Committee before noon on
Wednesday,
3/31/99)
SUPPORT: City of El Cajon
City of Santa Barbara
OPPOSED: None received.
3/31/99